Bolton felt that it was possibly of importance. It was, in fact, the
first clue he had been able to obtain.

That Dudley Ray's son should be forced by dire necessity to sell
newspapers was not in the least improbable. He went to an advertising
agency, and inserted the advertisement already mentioned.

A few days later he received two letters post-marked St. Louis.

He opened them with a thrill of excitement.

He felt that he was on the verge of making an important discovery.

One letter was addressed in a school-boy hand, and ran thus:

DEAR SIR:

I saw your advertisement in one of the morning papers. I hope it means
me. My name is not Ernest, but it may have been changed by some people
with whom I lived in Nebraska. I am sixteen years old, and am a poor
boy obliged to earn my living by selling papers. My father died when I
was a baby, and my mother three years later. So I am alone in the
world, and I am having a hard time. I suppose you wouldn't advertise
for me unless you had some good news for me. You may send your answer
to this letter to the Southern Hotel. The clerk is a friend of mine,
and he says he will save it for me.

Yours respectfully, ARTHUR RAY.

"That isn't the boy," said Bolton, laying down the letter in
disappointment. "The name is different, and, besides, the writer says
that his father died when he was a baby. Of course that settles the
question. He is a different boy."

He opened the second letter, hoping that it might be more
satisfactory.

It was the letter of Tom Burns, setting forth his meeting Ernest at
Oak Forks, and afterwards running across him at Oreville in
California.

"Eureka!" exclaimed Bolton, his face beaming with exultation. "This is
the boy and no mistake. I will at once answer this letter, and also
write to Ernest Ray in California."

This was the letter received by Burns:

DEAR SIR:

I am very much indebted to you for the information contained in your
letter of two days since. I have reason to think that the boy you
mention is the one of whom I am in search. If it proves to be so, I am
free to tell you that he will be much benefited by your communication.
There is a considerable estate, now wrongfully held by another, to
which he is entitled. Should things turn out as I hope and expect, I
will see that you lose nothing by the service you have rendered him
and myself. I will write to him by this mail. Should you change your
address, please notify me.

Yours